Phillies Send Luzardo to the Mound With a 9.00 ERA and Everything to Prove Against the Rockies

The Philadelphia Phillies already won Game 1 and dropped 10 runs on Colorado, but Game 2 at Coors Field on April 4 is a completely different animal. Jesús Luzardo takes the ball for Philly, and here's the thing that should worry every Phillies fan right now: he's rocking a 9.00 ERA after his first outing. Yeah, you read that right. One game in and the numbers are brutal.

Look, it's early. The stuff is still there. Mid-90s fastball, swing-and-miss ability. Luzardo has the horses. But Coors Field? That's where mistakes go to die. They don't just get hit, they get absolutely launched into the thin Colorado air. If he can't find the zone and keeps the ball down in the zone, this could get ugly fast. The Phillies' bats showed they can score at altitude in Game 1, but their pitcher's got to match that intensity.

Dollander Tries to Keep It Close for the Rockies

Chase Dollander gets the call for Colorado, and he's in the exact same boat as Luzardo. The right-hander already picked up a win this season, which sounds good until you see the 9.00 ERA sitting right next to it. Command is going to be everything for Dollander tonight. If he falls behind in the count against a Phillies lineup that just hung 10 on his team, the damage could compound quickly.

How to Catch It

First pitch is 8:10 p.m. ET at Coors Field. If you're in Philly, NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus and the NBC Sports Philadelphia app have you covered. Colorado fans, check Rockies.TV. Out-of-market? MLB.TV has the full broadcast. You can also stream on Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV if you've got those subscriptions.

This is the kind of early-season game where two shaky pitchers with identical ERAs could turn into a slugfest. Buckle up.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.